STARKVILLE, Miss . – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced its 2011 All-America Scholar Athletes, Friday. The Lipscomb Lady Bisons softball team placed six members of the 2011 squad on the list and finished 51st in the country as a team.

Senior Whitney Kiihnl (Biology), junior Bree Thurman (Marketing) and departed Lady Bisons Courtney Billington (Biology), Miaca Bowman (Biology), Mackenzie Tucker (Psychology) and Lacey Walker (Elementary Education) represented the Lady Bisons on the list. It was the second year in a row Lipscomb as a team was honored by the NFCA.

“We know that our on-field success gets most of the attention,” said Lipscomb head coach Kristin Ryman. “What people forget is that these athletes are students first. They work just as hard in the classroom as they do on the field, and to see our team recognized for team GPA again is outstanding.”

As a team, Lipscomb’s 3.270 overall GPA was tied for 51st (with Houston and Northern Iowa) out of 133 schools honored. The Lady Bisons were fourth in the Atlantic Sun behind ETSU (3.495), Stetson (3.477) and Belmont (3.358).

Lipscomb continues its fall schedule Saturday at the UTC Tournament, with games against Calhoun Community College (11 a.m.) and Georgia (1:15 p.m.)

Check LipscombSports.com for more information on the Lady Bisons softball team, and like us on Facebook (Lipscomb Softball).